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No wake zone declared at Saipan port
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Posted on Jul 12 2004
With divers trying to salvage the sunken fishing vessel Mwalil-Sfaat, those navigating the waters in and around the Puerto Rico dump and Charlie Dock are being advised to slow down as much as possible for the safety of the divers.
Port Manager Antonio B. Cabrera issued a memorandum yesterday to all harbor pilots, masters, vessel operators and vessel owners, declaring a no wake zone at the Able Dock due to the ongoing vessel salvage operation.
According to Cabrera, the zone will remain in effect until the condition is “modified.” A no wake zone means that vessels have to slow down to minimize creating waves that could hamper or endanger the lives of the divers.
In addition to the divers, there will be small vessels operating as tenders. The new no wake zone will extend to the water area about 300 yards offshore from the southernmost point of the dump to the northernmost point of the dock.
Violators of the new directive were warned that they would be prosecuted in accordance with local and federal laws if they fail to operate their vessels outside of the required levels within the zone.
The Mwalil-Sfaat, a 93-foot derelict fishing vessel moored at the Mariana’s Public Land Authority, sustained severe damage from Typhoon Tingting, causing it to sink. According to Cabrera, proper measures were not taken by the vessel’s owner to ensure its well-being before the storm.
Agencies immediately went to the site on June 28 and saw the sunken vessel, with a diesel oil sheen around it and a trail of black oil that was dissipating north to Lower Base due to the bad weather.
A U.S. Coast Guard-Saipan statement said the Commonwealth Port Authority immediately notified it of the incident.
Among those at the scene were the USCG, CPA, Emergency Management Office, Coastal Resources Management, and Division of Environmental Quality.
“A preliminary environmental assessment indicated that minimal fuel and oil was onboard at the time of the sinking. Immediate action was taken to mitigate the environmental threat, secure and stabilize the vessel,” the statement said.
